Outlet box



AJuly 1019s.

A 1.656298 H. M. STIEGLITZ OUTLET Box Filed March 21, 1925 pair,

i HENRY M. STIEGLITZ, ST. LOUIYS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO FRANKAADAM EBECTRC the coverplate support.

C0., OF ST. LOUIVS, MISSOURI, ,A CORPORATION. Y.

OUTLET Box. Y

appiication med March 2.1, i925. serialy No. 17.317.

Y My invention relates to improvements in outlet boxes-for installation in wall cavities or openings and more particularly adapted to receive electrical switches, sockets, receptacles and the like .and arranged for the support of a cover or flush, wall or finishV plate.

Ordinarily, such boxes are made of metal and provided with devices, the box, for the sole purpose of the att-ach- Vment of a cover plate. f .f

My object is to -provi'dea box which-is especially designed foi use in connection with a cover plate and which' comprises walls or sides, having Vrelatively angular disposition, and elements which serve the double purpose of relatively securing the walls and supporting the cover plate.-

My improvements consist in the novel con-` struction, arrangement and combination .of parts as hereinafter fully, clearlyv and con'- ciscly described., definitely pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanyling drawing in which :--V

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which the box of my invention may be formed; Fig. 2 is afplan view of a blank from which the cover-plate support of my invention may be formed; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a Vcomplete box embodying my improvements; and Fig. 4 is a sectional plan showing a cornerfragment of a box and a cover-plate support.

Referring to the drawings, the blank for-thebox and B the blank for As shown, the blank A is substantially of the'contour of a Greek cross and comprises areas, as defined by dotted lines C, forming a bottom 5, and walls G, 7, 8 and 9, all of which are of substantially rectangular shape.

In each wall, adjacent each of its corners farthest from the bottom 5, is an opening 10, preferably in the form of a slot, having a trend paralleling the outermost margin vof the wall whereby the slots of thewalls 6 and 7 ai'e substantially at a right angle to the slots of the walls 8 and 9. By preference, a plurality of 11, whereby selectively located holes, or openings for wiring may be formed, are provided, and by further preference, certain areas of the to boxes not elemental to by dotted A designates incomplete circular cuts 'margins and a lug blank are providedrwith perfo- 1 rations 12 for thesccuriiig of the box lin the wallcavity. i f i i The cover-plate support, as shown by the blank B, in Fig. 2, comprises a body 13 having'essentially the substantially right angled margins 14 and 15, and by preference formed .of substantially triangular shape,

and projecting from the margins lf-andl of which are the lugs 16 which are relatively parallel. To adapt the support for the attachment of acover 'plate'y there is formed inthe body.. 13 a perforation 17, which by-'preference is internallythreaded, i. In the forming ofthe boxthe walls, .7, 8

`and 9 are turned, Yon'thelines designated C` y to stand vertical to the bottom 5, ,as Shown in Fig. 3, which brings allof the slots 10to a plane common to Iall and whichffrelates f theV slots in pairs, andcby. which `the slots of :eachpajir are disposed at a'rightangle to each other., As for :example ,the slots of the walls and are paiiedjwith the j siotsofV After the walls are soformeda cover-plate support isplaced with its lugs 16 inserted througheach pair of the slots `10, as shown lines iii Fig. 4, and by impact, or

pressure, the lugs are then Ibent, turned or.

upset, along lines paralleling the maiginsl 14 and 15 of the support-bodies 13 and the outer margins of the slots outer faces of the walls. Obviously,by reason of the bendingor flexing lines of the lugs being disposed relatively at a right angle, the bodies of the lugs will be moved,`

lin their bending, inV directions toward each lother and hence the single element, that is,

4the cover-plate support, and the'single actV 10, to overlap the of its' attachment to the walls, serves torpro` vide an attaching means ,for the cover. plate and securing means foradjacent walls as" e 95 well as a proper and true placement of the plate-support and a bringing together of the margins of adj aceiit walls to forni true and uniform box corners.

I claimi f V l. As a new article of manufacture, a boxwall securing device comprising a body haveV ioc ingra pair of relatively angularly disposed f right angle.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a box# extending from'each ofY the said margins at an angle other than a Wall securing device comprising a body having a pair of relatively angularly disposed margins, a lug formed as an integral projection from each of said margins, said lugs having trends at an angle to said margins and relatively parallel.

3. A box of the class described, comprising a bottom and side walls, constructed as a unit, there being openings in the side Walls related in pair, securing devices comprising each, a corner support having a pair of flexible lugs for extension through said relatedv pairs of openings and said lugs of each device being bent in directions toward each other.l

4. A box-wall securing device comprising fiexible lugs adapted to be bent against the Walls of the box and a corner brace uniting said lugs and adapted to position said Walls and form a support within the box for a box closure.

5. A box-Wall securing device adapted to imite the Walls of the box angularly to each other and comprising a substantially lat member adapted to lit Within a corner of the box and act as a spacing means for determin- Walls related in pairs for the reception of securing devices, and a securing` device comprising a seat' adapted to support a box closure and integral flexible lugs adapted to extend through the openings in said side Walls.

7. The combination of a: box comprising a bottom and side Walls constructed 4as a unit, the box having openings in the side Walls related in pairs for the reception of securing devices and a sheet metal securing element comprising a web adapted to be positioned against adjacent side walls as a corner brace and form a support for a box closure and havingintegral flexible lugs adapted to be folded toward each other to rigidly hold said Walls. l

8. In an electric outlet box, formed of a single blank, an internal corner support hav ing a flexible Wall-gripping portion.

9. In lan electric outlet box, an element forming a bottom and Walls, and a Wall positioning element adapted as a box-closure rest, securing'means integral with one of the elements, the other element being adapted to receive the securing means.

10. In an electric outlet box, an element forming a bottom and Walls, and an element adapted as a box-cover support; one of said elements being apertured and the other element havin@ a iiexible member adapted to coact With tlie apertured element to serve as a Wall securing device.

. HENRY M. STIEGLITZ (lll 

